6 Best Remedies for Morning Sickness During Pregnancy

As casually as everyone talks about morning sickness, women who’ve experienced it during pregnancy know it can be brutal. For starters, morning sickness doesn’t have to occur strictly during the a.m. hours. Parents reports it’s also common to feel nauseous throughout the day or right before bed.

This uncomfortable feeling can be triggered by many different things, including certain foods, beverages, and scents. Even the smell of sweet perfume can be enough to make you feel queasy when pregnant. To help ease that nauseating feeling you may endure during pregnancy, try these six remedies.

1. Stay hydrated

Make sure to stay hydrated. | iStock.com

Although pregnancy can make it difficult to drink enough water each day, dehydration can actually increase nausea. Medical News Today says to try mixing apple cider vinegar and honey into a glass of water if you struggle to drink it plain. Sipping other cold drinks like decaffeinated soda or ginger ale may also help. You can even try sucking ice cubes or having an ice pop if drinking liquids seems impossible.

2. Keep dry crackers on your bedside table

Crackers can help. | iStock.com

It’s important to keep a snack by your bed so you can eat a few before starting your day. Fit Pregnancy mentions getting even this small bit of food in your stomach can help fight off nausea in the morning because an empty stomach promotes that uncomfortable, queasy feeling. Other dry, bland foods like pretzels and toast also make for good snacks to help alleviate sickness throughout the day.

3. Use more ginger

Ginger is your friend. | iStock.com

Ginger has been used in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years, and for good reason. In addition to being a great source of magnesium and potassium, ginger is also great for treating nausea. For pregnant women, this is great news. WebMD says to sip hot water mixed with fresh grated ginger or take FDA-approved ground ginger capsules. It’s also great to add ginger to meals when cooking or to suck on candied ginger as well.

4. Stick to a wholesome diet

A diet full of fresh fruit and veggies can help. | iStock.com

When pregnant, stick to foods with plenty of protein and complex carbohydrates to fight off morning sickness. Healthline Networks says vegetables, beans, legumes, and whole-grain breads and pastas are great sources of complex carbohydrates. For protein, aim for at least four servings per day, unless your doctor recommends otherwise.

And don’t forget to include healthy fats like flaxseed, avocado, fatty fish, and walnuts in your meals. Not only will maintaining a healthy diet keep you from feeling nauseous, but it will also nourish your baby with essential nutrients that are important for healthy growth and development.

5. Eat small meals throughout the day

Smaller meals may help. | iStock.com

As mentioned earlier, an empty stomach can lead to nausea. To avoid morning sickness, eat small meals, but eat frequently throughout the day. Everyday Health suggests eating every two hours to prevent your blood sugar levels from getting too low. When this happens, you’re more likely to feel queasy. Livestrong.com mentions eating smaller meals frequently can also help ease heartburn, which you may experience later on during pregnancy.

6. Fill your home with fresh scents

Essential oils can relieve you of nausea. | iStock.com

Parents says morning sickness is often triggered by certain smells. This includes strong perfume and not-so-pleasant odors from a passing garbage truck. These smells are especially nausea-inducing for pregnant women because they have higher levels of estrogen, which can increase the sense of smell.

To help reduce feelings of nausea during pregnancy, fill your home with scents that help combat queasiness. The American Pregnancy Association mentions peppermint, ginger, cardamom, and citrus are known to be easy on the nose and are beneficial for warding off morning sickness.